Sewing for Baby

I mentioned before how much I just love these little pants! Ever since seeing them mentioned on Amanda Soule's blog, I have been wanting to make a pair. Then, when Lydia showed them on her blog, I knew I had to order the book and get to sewing.

I am so glad I did! Are they not the cutest things ever?

I made a pair for a friend with a matching appliqued onsie and two pairs for our baby girl! The pattern is wonderfully written and once you get the material all cut out - my least favorite part of sewing - they sew up pretty quickly.

I used up all of the horse and polka dot fabric, so instead of making a matching appliqued onsie for the pairs I made our baby girl, I am going to knit up a little red sweater or cardigan to match! But, hmm, no red yarn in my knitting basket. Oh no! Guess I am just going to have to buy some! ;)

The pattern is written for up to 24 months! Two years worth of cute little pants! I need to buy more fabric!

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Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ~ John 14:6

With Needle & Thread

I decided a few weeks ago to dust off the sewing machine and get to work on finishing Emma's Quilt that I started, oh, over a year ago! I was determined to get it done this time and not stop until it was indeed finished. Over the course of 2 nights and the help of my wonderful mother-in-law, Emma has been cuddling with it every night for over a week!

{my sewing buddy!}

The reason it took me so long to finish was the fact that I lost my motivation and gave up! My sewing machine could not handle the thickness of all the fabrics and I kept making many, many, mistakes. So, I tucked it away...thinking I would never finish it! This is a quality of mine that I do not like...at all. I give up way too easily! Thankfully, I was reminded by a sweet friend that the qualities I want my children to posses are qualities I need to also have myself. I do not want my children to give up so easily when situations get tough. I want them to persevere and figure it out!

All this led me to asking my mother-in-law if I could use her fancy-smancy sewing machine and getting this quilt sewn once and for all. And I am so glad I did! Emma loves it and it helped me get my motivation back to sew again!

It's amazing how successfully finishing one project fuels oneself to take on and tackle some more! In the week since finishing the quilt, I also made Emma a dress for the 4th of July as well as Caleb a little bow-tie t-shirt.

The dress is a Simplicity pattern that I picked up at Joann's when they were on sale for $1.99! LOVE when they have their pattern sales! The little tie was made by simply cutting out a tie from my chosen fabric, adding fusible interfacing to the back, and then ironing it on and stitching around the outsides. Simple and oh so cute!

Next up in the sewing que are the Cute-as-a-Button Booties and Quick-Change Trousers from the book Handmade Beginnings. I have seen the Trousers featured on many, many, blogs and have been wanting to make a pair ever since! And the fabirc I chose I think will be perfect! I plan on making the trousers and booties in the same fabric and if I have any left over, I am hoping to also make this little dress out of the same fabric!

Oh so cute for a baby girl! Plus, the nice thing about the trousers are they are a bit bigger in the bum area...perfect for a clothed tushie! I'm sure I will be making more than one pair for the littlest of my girls!

Now, I know that it is a lot easier to just go to the store and buy dresses, shirts, booties, and pants for my children, but what fun is that? I love creating things for them...mama handmade! Items that will be kept and treasured to be worn on their own children someday...grandma handmade! Hey, I may even attempt another quilt here real soon!

What have you been creating lately?

 

 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. ~ Matthew 11:29-30

Homemade Birthday Gifts

When thinking of what to give as birthday gifts for family and friends, I always like to at least try and make one gift homemade. I like receiving homemade gifts which is why I like giving them as well.

We had a very special little girls first birthday party last weekend, so it was important to me to make her something really fun! Here is what I came up with...

I found the idea for the little wooden peg people on Pinterest. When I saw them, I knew immediately that I had to make them for someone. This little girl seemed like the perfect fit! I painted six different wooden pegs a color of the rainbow and matched a little wooden bowl to their color. I made it into a matching game for the cute little one year old. I had such a fun time painting these little dolls that with the two I had as extras, well I couldn't resist making something fun for my little kiddos!

For Emma, a princess equipped with her own castle and Caleb, well I found this little green alien just too cute! He even flies around the room in his silvery spaceship!

The fabric bucket that I used to place her gifts in was made from this fabulous tutorial. I filled the little bucket with some books, the peg dolls matching color game, and a cute rag doll. The handles are just long enough for her little hands to grasp and carry around with her, placing any treasures she may find inside!

The bucket was so easy to make that I couldn't stop at just one! I ended up making one for myself!

I decided to make mine a little taller, instead of long and wide like the tutorial suggests. It is the perfect knitting bag. I also use it to tote my book and/or kindle in as well. I like having a fabric tote to carry my current knitting and book in wherever I go!

Emma is also getting a little bucket for her birthday and I am sure somewhere down the line Caleb will end up with one as well!

Do you enjoy making/receiving homemade gifts?

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11-13

Presents for a Little Girl

When you set out to complete a certain task, the feeling of accomplishment ,when you do in fact finish, is thrilling!

At the start of last week, I had two out of the three gifts I had set out to make for my nieces 2nd birthday, still left to start and finish before her party, which was yesterday!

In the midst of panic saturday morning, I had the last of the gifts to finish. If you ask my husband, he will tell you that come Saturday afternoon, he was happy to have his wife back! I am happy to say, however, that I did finish, on time.

This was my first time making any of these items, and if I may say, I am pretty pleased with myself as to how they came out!

They each have their own little "sleeping bag" pocket to slip into...

...and when rolled up, they are ready to go to grandma's, camping, wherever! {so cute!}

I love the idea of a crayon roll! I throw one in my diaper bag and a notepad and it is instant entertainment at a restaurant, doctors office, etc., for the kids.

Makes a fun gift when you add two coloring books to it!

As an added touch to both the Sleepover Pals and the Crayon Roll, I added a tag letting them know what it was.

This dress, I just loved so much once finished, that I wish I wouldn't look silly wearing one!

The apron was needing something, so I cut out and appliqued this little guy onto the front of it! Love!

The recipient seemed to enjoy her new friends and that made all the hard work worth it!

I wish I could take credit for coming up with these items all on my own, but they were the works of the following masterminds:

Pattern for Apron Knot Dress can be found here
Pattern for Sleepover Pals can be found here
Tutorial for Crayon Roll can be found here

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ~ Matthew 11:28

Homemade Gifts

Do you tend to take on more than you can handle?
I know I do.
There is so much that I want to do and never enough time to do it in.

My niece is having her 2nd birthday this upcoming weekend and I decided to try and make all of her gifts.
On the list of things to make are:

• Crayon Roll (finished! just need to buy a coloring book or two to go along with it. crayons are already rolled up inside)
• Apron Knot Dress (everything is cut out and sewing started tonight. *hopefully* will finish up tomorrow)
• Sleepover Pals (not a thing started on these! hoping to at least get the fabric cut tomorrow) pattern can be found in Hillary Lang's Wee Wonderfuls book, which is totally awesome by the way!

I have less than a week to finish and know it can be done, but the stress of making sure it is perfect and actually gets done is really starting to get to me.

Why do I do this to myself?

Stay tuned! If I get finished with everything, I am sure to make a post, with pics, all about it! :)


My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62: 1-2

Something for her...Something for him

I have been on a roll this week. I've been bit by the sewing bug and I cannot seem to stop!

I had the pattern for this little owl for over a year and finally got around to starting and finishing it!



It will eventually match the quilt I am making for my daughters bed. All that I have let to do on the quilt is the actual quilting part and I am hoping to get to that this weekend!

Next up, I made this tie applique shirt for my son to wear to an anniversary party we are attending this weekend. Finding tutorials for clothes for boys is very hard. So, when I came across this, I new I had to make it! I love how it turned out! Cute, eh?



And, I couldn't let my daughter not have something cute to wear as well! I usually do not do the whole matchy matchy thing, but I love this fabric so much that I couldn't resist! This is her...as she calls it..."twirly dress"!





So fun and so easy to make! Will definitely be making more of these!

Have you been bit by a crafty bug lately?

Owl Tutorial can be found here.

Tie Applique Tutorial can be found here.

"Twirly Skirt" tutorial can be found here.

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And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift. ~ Romans 5:15

Christmas in July

Last year, I came across what quickly became one of my favorite blogs to read each day. Smalltown Simplicity. Much inspiration and encouragment can be found here. Lydia's post about making a Waldorf doll for her daughter inspired me to do the same for my little girl.

While browsing around on her blog, I found a post talking about a handmade Christmas and quickly became inspired to do the same. I decided to try my best at making this year a handmade kind of Christmas.

I've been brainstorming, trying to decide what to make for everyone. The kids will be easy! I am thinking of making them some PJ's, little wooden dolls, painted wooden trains, a car roll and crayon roll,

Photo Courtesy of Gluesticks

Photo Courtesy of The Pleated Poppy

and these awesome floor pillows:

Photo Courtesy of  Living With Punks

For my mom and mom-in-law, I was thinking of making them smaller versions {lap size} of this Stacked Coins Quilt:

Photo Courtesy of Moda Bakeshop

As far as my sister and all the men, well that is where it gets tricky. They are all rather picky and trying to find handmade items to make for them is proving to be rather difficult.  I was, however, thinking of making my sister one of these bags and stuffing it with some gift cards to her favorite stores.

Photo Courtesy of Made By Rae

I just need to keep brainstorming for the guys!

Have you ever done a handmade Christmas? What did you end up making?

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. – John 17:17